Golf ball pickup device



March 25, 1969 L. c. DE CROES 3,434,753

GOLF BALL PICKUP DEVICE Filed Juiy 12, 19s? INVENTOF? LEON C. DE CROES ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,434,753 GOLF BALL PICKUP DEVICE Leon C. De Croes, 209 E. Carter St., Kokomo, Ind. 46901 Filed July 12, 1967, Ser. No. 652,791 Int. Cl. A47f 13/06 US. Cl. 294-19 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article of manufacture for manual use by an individual in picking up golf balls without having to bend down. The article forms a two-tined fork having an elongated handle disposed at an angle with the tines, and having one tine longer than the other.

Background of the invention A popular form of practice for golf players is to hit a series of balls from one position, in an attempt to perfect their swing. When the player retrieves the golf balls he must bend down frequently since the balls do not fall in a small area. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which allows a golf player to pick up golf balls without having to bend down. It is a further object to provide such a device which is economical and easy to use;

Summary of the invention In accordance with my invention an elongated shaft has a pair of tines attached to one end and disposed at an angle therewith. The tines are parallel over a substantial portion of their length and are longer than, but spaced apart less than, the diameter of a golf ball. It has been found that a ball may be picked up with ease if the tine lengths are unequal. To permit using the device to pick up two balls at a time, one embodiment provides a dip in the slightly curved tines toward the back thereof. The dip is curved in conformance with a portion of the circumference of a golf ball and serves to hold one 'ball in place while a second ball is picked up. After a golf ball is picked up, the device may be raised and the ball deposited in a bag. A second embodiment also holds one ball in place while a second ball is picked up; but, in this case the amount of separation of the tines is increased in a curved manner to provide a small well.

Brief description of the drawing Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a golf-ball pickup device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a golf-ball pickup device which is modified with respect to FIG. 1.

Detailed description of the invention As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 my golf-ball pickup device comprises an elongated handle or shaft which is preferably about three and one-half feet long. Two parallel tines 11 and 12 protrude angularly from the lower end of the shaft 10 for scooping up golf balls. Preferably these tines 11 and 12 have a slight curvature 13 when viewed from the side as in FIG. 2 although they form straight lines when viewed from the top as can 'be seen in FIG. 1.

It has been found that the ease with which a ball may be picked up with this device is increased if one tine is made slightly longer than the other. Conveniently, two balls may be picked up at one time if the tines are of approximately four inches in length, one tine being about one-quarter inch longer than the other. The optimum angle A between the shaft '10 and the tines 11 and 12 has been found to be approximately 40.

The golf player simply holds the shaft 10 near the top and scoops the tines 11 and 12 under a golf ball. The slight curvature 13 of the tines causes the ball to roll towards the shaft whereupon the device may be raised to deposit the ball in a bag. A slight dip 14 is provided in each tine towards the rear thereof and these dips are curved in conformance with a portion of the circumference of a golf ball. These dips 1'4 tend to hold one ball in place after it has been scooped up, thereby increasing the ease with which a second ball may be picked up.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing illustrate one means of attaching the tines 11 and 12 to the end of the shaft 10. The two tines are formed from a single length of heavy gauge wire which is passed through a transverse hole 15 in the lower end of the shaft 10 so that the length extending from one side of the shaft is approximately one-quarter inch longer than the length extending from the other side. The wire is then bent at right angles to the transverse portion so that the resulting tines 1'1 and 12 are in line with the length of he shaft. Blocking means or stops, in the form of two pegs or screws 16 and 17, are secured in the shaft 10, below the hole 15, one below tine 11 and one above tine 12. These screws 16 and 17 prevent pivotal movement of the transverse portion of the tine structure which passes through hole 15. The tines 11 and 12 are bent to form the angle A with the shaft and the curvature 13 and dip 14 are then formed in each tine.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 3 provides a pair of tines 11' and 12' whose spacing decreases gradually toward their tips. The tines 11' and 12' are bowed out slightly near the end of the shaft 10, as at 20. The bows in the two tines form a well for a golf ball and tend to hold one ball in place while a second ball is being scooped up.

The resultant structure of each embodiment is sturdy and light, yet economical to manufacture and easy to use.

I claim:

1. A golf ball pickup device comprising an elongated handle, a pair of tines having lengths greater than twice the diameter of a golf ball, attached to one end of said handle and extending beyond such end at an angle to the handle and horizontally in a shallow upwardly-concave curve along the ground when the handle is held in an operative position extending toward the ground, said tines being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball to support a ball for rolling movement toward the rear of the tines, the rear portion of said tines being bent to form a ball retaining seat to which a ball on said tines will roll as it is picked up and in which a first ball will be retained as a second ball is picked up on the front part of the tines.

2. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tines are of unequal length.

3. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 2, where in the distance separating said tines gradually decreases from said seat toward their tips.

'4. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seat is formed by dips in said tines having curvatures in conformance with a portion of the circumference of a golf ball.

5. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said tines are of unequal length.

6. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seat is formed by outwardly curved portions of said tines.

3 4 7. The golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 6, FOREIGN PATENTS wherein said tines are of unequal length. 906523 3/1954 Germany 8. A golf ball pickup device as set forth in claim 6 in which the distance between the tines progressively in- RICHARD E. AEGERTER primary Examiner creases from their tips toward said seat. 5 ROBERT D GUIOD A t m Ex min r s ls a a e References Cited US Cl XR UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,835 11/1938 Smith 2946 1 X 

